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There are countless ways to ruin your day but stepping in a fresh heap of dog droppings is definitely high on the list.
By Laura Pakis, Certified Professional Dog Trainer, and Cynologist
Dog Poop Statistics
–In Franklin County, Ohio, 277,000 dogs produce 104 tons of dog poop a day.
–According to the LA Times, about 38% of people do not pick up their dog’s waste.
–Dog poop produces methane. Methane is an odorless gas produced when microbes consume and digest the poop as it decomposes. “The city of Chicago’s 68 million pounds of annual dog poop creates 102 million cubic feet of unburned methane.” according to the LA Times.
–In 1993, the US EPA reported that 95% of fecal coliform found in urban stormwater was of non-human origin (Alderiso et al., 1996 and Trial et al., 1993). Much of this waste is from dogs, as they are concentrated in urban areas (unlike wildlife, which moves around freely).
Why clean up after your dog
Cleaning up after your dog is not only the responsible thing to do (it’s a common courtesy). There are actually environmental and health reasons for doing so.
Dog Poop is NOT good fertilizer.
Don’t assume that dog poop is good for plants since cow manure used as fertilizer. A cow’s diet is vegetarian, while a dog’s diet is high in meat protein. This protein makes their poop highly acidic and heavy in nitrogen. Plants exposed to many dog poop eventually die just as they would if they were overfertilized with a nitrogen-heavy fertilizer.
Dog waste can also turn your grass brown or yellow in spots. The best way to keep your lawn green is to promptly clean up after your dog, or at least weekly.
And don’t think of adding it to your compost pile. To kill any pathogens and microbes present in the scat, the compost needs to reach very high temperatures. It can be done under special circumstances but not with typical compost.
Dog Poop Can Affect our Water.
All animal waste affects our water, and dogs are no exception. During rain events, dog poop left on the ground can wash away through the sewer systems and end up in our lakes and rivers, polluting our freshwater supplies. The water that goes through these storm sewer systems is not treated, so what goes into a drain exits into our waterways.
When this happens, poop decomposes and releases nutrients that cause excessive growth of algae and weeds. This makes the water murky, green, and smelly. In fact, the algae and weeds can get so overgrown that the water is no longer suitable for our favorite activities such as swimming, boating, and fishing, according to the University of Rhode Island.
Dog Poop can spread Disease.
Dog wa
ste is even more full of disease-causing bacteria and parasites than other types of waste. These bacteria and parasites are harmful to humans and spread the disease to other dogs. Dog waste is full of E. coli, salmonella and is a common carrier of the following: hookworms, ringworms, and tapeworms, Parvovirus, Ancylostoma Coronavirus, Giardiasis, Salmonellosis, Toxocara Canis Cryptosporidiosis, and Campylobacteriosis. These bacteria and parasites linger in the soil for years. If you don’t pick up after your dog, you are putting other people and other dogs at risk of getting sick.
Cleaning Up Dog Poop is the Law.
Cities have laws that require the collection of canine waste. In most cases, each one of those piles of poop can see the responsible party faced to pay upwards of $50-$100 in fines. It’s also a minor misdemeanor offense which would go on their criminal record. . If you’re in Madrid, one park will even box up your dog’s poop and mail it back to you, according to The Washington Post! Crazy right?
Mochi’s Paws Pet Waste Bags
So now you know why you should pick up after your dog. Here is a great tool to use.
Acme Canine was asked to test Mochi’s Paws bags and share our results with you.
Since there are eight rolls in a box, we shared the rolls among Penny and Autumn’s canine friends.
Certified Compostable
The bags are cornstarch-based, making them CERTIFIED 100% COMPOSTABLE(They’re certified ASTM D6400 in USA, EN13432, and OK-Compost in Europe.)
According to Mochis Paws, they will break down in just 90 days. We tested them for 1 month and found the bag started leaking the water. We put in it around day 10, but the bag still held its integrity. So you don’t need to worry that the bag will break before your weekly garbage collection.
Their bags are EXTRA THICK.
We put them to the test with our Spring Thaw poop pickup. One bag holds 5 lbs of dog waste. You won’t have that much on a routine walk, but the bags are large at 9×13 inches and fit in most standard leash dispensers.
USA based and they give back to Charity
Unlike competitors from abroad, Mochi’s Paws is a small family business located in Los Angeles, CA, USA. They are also strong believers in giving back to our community. A portion of all proceeds of their compostable poop bags for dogs is donated to pet and animal charities.
Quality Product, but NOT EXPENSIVE
Poop bags usually range from 2-cents to 10-cents, depending on what you buy. Mochi’s Paws is a little over 1-cent/bag on Amazon.
And for a short time, the company is offering Acme Canine readers a limited additional discount of 15%. Code is 15ACMECANINE and will start March 5 – April 5, 2021.
What all the Dogs are Saying
Chester seems to like the bags. He’s happy to fill them up. His owners, Jeff and Michael, like them too! They appreciate that the bags are compostable.
Winston’s dad stated, “They seem to hold together well, after having been used and sitting in the garbage can.”
“I am not sure what they cost. As a comparison, we got 500 plastic bags from Bed, Bath and Beyond for $13.00, commented Marley’s mom, “Bottom line, if they don’t cost too much more, I’d certainly get some.”
Final Note
It can be a pain to pick up poop, but between its impact on nature and hefty fines, avoiding it can lead to even bigger problems. Cleaning up immediately after your dog with a poop bag makes life easier for you, your neighbors, and your dog! When you keep your yard clean, you have less of a chance of tracking unwanted messes into your home and onto your carpet. Not to mention, your home will stay odor-free!
Backyard barbeques, running around barefoot in the park, outdoor picnics, and simply walking down the sidewalk are all easier and less messy when we pick up after our furry pals.
Acme Canine gives Mochi’s Paws 5 paws up for the integrity of the product, quality construction, and the added feature of Mochi’s Paws’ strong belief in giving back to our community. A portion of all proceeds of their compostable poop bags for dogs is donated to pet and animal charities, and they want your input in choosing a charity quarterly.
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